‘Other’ Sydney Spectaculars – Page 7

‘Sydney Swans’ & ‘Greater Western Sydney Giants’ Light Up Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is getting into the spirit of next Saturday’s local Australian Football League (AFL) derby, with the pylons of the famous landmark to be lit with Sydney Swans & Greater Western Sydney Giants players for the coming week.

In a celebration of the 1st Sydney AFL Final to feature both local teams, the Bridge will be lit up in both those clubs’ colours every night until Friday, September 9.

The Sydney Swans & Greater Western Sydney Giants will face off in the 1st Qualifying Final next Saturday afternoon at ANZ Stadium, with the winner getting a home Preliminary Final in Sydney & a precious week off.

Lance Franklin, Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker, Jarrad McVeigh, Josh Kennedy & Kurt Tippett are star Sydney Swans to feature in the rotating images on the south pylon of the Bridge.

Callan Ward, Steve Johnson, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron & Dylan Shiel are the Greater Western Sydney Giants players who will feature on the north pylon.

Well over 40,000 tickets have already been sold for the derby, which will be the Greater Western Sydney Giants’ Finals debut.

Media Release: Australian Football League

New ‘Lunar Lanterns’ Add Star Lights To Festival

4 spectacular new Zodiac lanterns will be part of the City Of Sydney’s 2017 Chinese New Year Festival celebrating The Year Of The Rooster.

The giant artworks, representing animal signs of the Chinese Zodiac, will join the Lunar Lanterns exhibition that featured as part of the 2016 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival, which attracted 1.3 million visitors.

The new animal lanterns – a rooster, rat, pig & snake – will be located in key locations throughout the city from the 27th of January to the 12th of February 2017.

Interactive lighting & design architects, Amigo & Amigo, will design new concepts for the rooster & snake lanterns; Chinese-Australian artist, Guo Jian, will design the rat lantern while the pig lantern will be created by Beijing-born artist & sculptor, John Deng.

11th February 2016 - 'The Monkeys' at the Sydney Opera House during the City Of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival celebrations. Photo by DAMIAN SHAW/CITY OF SYDNEY — 11th February 2016 – ‘The Monkeys’ at the Sydney Opera House during the City Of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival celebrations.
Photo by DAMIAN SHAW/CITY OF SYDNEY

Next year will be the 21st anniversary of the Festival and the 2nd year the City has exhibited Lunar Lanterns.

City Of Sydney Chief Executive Officer, Monica Barone, said the new lanterns will mean even more people can enjoy the 2017 Lunar Lanterns exhibition & Sydney Chinese New Year Festival celebrations.

“Our 1st ever Lunar Lanterns were a huge hit in 2016, attracting more than 750,000 visitors & providing more than 1000 community group members with the opportunity to perform at each lantern”

“These new lanterns will help us continue to build on what is one of the biggest & most successful Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia. I look forward to seeing the lantern designs by local artists”

11th February 2016 -City Of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival celebrations. Photo by DAMIAN SHAW/CITY OF SYDNEY — 11th February 2016 -City Of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival celebrations. Photo by DAMIAN SHAW/CITY OF SYDNEY

Festival curator, Claudia Chan Shaw, said the City will work with artists to deliver the new lanterns.

“For more than 2000 years, the lantern has been an important part of Chinese New Year celebrations & the Lunar Lanterns exhibition is a modern, contemporary twist on this ancient tradition” Claudia said.

“Lunar Lanterns will encourage more visitors into the city, providing a boost for local retailers as well as showcasing a variety of community performances & events throughout the 2017 Festival”

From its modest beginnings in 1995 as a community street market, the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of the Lunar New Year outside of Asia.

The Festival will include favourite events like The Dragon Boat Races at Darling Harbour, the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub, the Westpac Painting The Town Red & an extensive associated program of more than 80 partner events.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Communities Turn The Zodiac Into A Performance

The City Of Sydney is inviting community groups & performers that celebrate the Lunar New Year to take part in the Lunar Lanterns exhibition for the 2017 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival.

Lunar Lanterns will feature 12 giant lanterns representing animal signs of the Chinese Zodiac at some of Sydney’s most popular locations as part of the Festival from the 27th of January to the 12th of February.

Martin Place & Customs House Square will feature colourful & lively performances set amongst the magnificent Zodiac lanterns.

The City is looking for community groups & artists that would like to produce performances & demonstrations for the Lunar Lantern Community Performance Program, part of the Lunar Lanterns exhibition.

Sydney - February 10, 2016: City of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival celebrations in Sydney, Australia (Photo by Jamie Williams/City of Sydney) — Sydney – February 10, 2016: City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival celebrations in Sydney, Australia (Photo by Jamie Williams/City of Sydney)

“This is a great opportunity for Chinese New Year Festival regulars & other community groups to be part of the biggest Lunar New Year celebration outside mainland China” City Of Sydney Chief Executive Officer, Monica Barone, said.

“We are looking for traditional & contemporary performances & skills demonstrations from martial arts to tai chi”

“This is a great way for participants to showcase their talents & for tourists, workers and residents, to celebrate our city’s many cultures.”

City of Sydney's Chinese New Year celebrations on the 11th February 2016. Photo by DAMIAN SHAW / CITY OF SYDNEY — City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year celebrations on the 11th February 2016.
Photo by DAMIAN SHAW / CITY OF SYDNEY

Next year’s Sydney Chinese New Year Festival program will provide more opportunities to celebrate the lunar festival throughout the city centre as well as its traditional heart in Chinatown.

Lunar Lanterns will be one of the highlight events of the City’s 2017 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival celebrations. The Festival will also include long-time favourite events like the Dragon Boat Races, Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub, Westpac Painting The Town Red & more than 80 associated events.

“The community is the heart of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival & we want to showcase their talents and help promote these organisations in a vibrant celebration of all of the communities that celebrate the Lunar New Year” said Claudia Chan Shaw, Sydney Chinese New Year Festival Curator.

To be part of the Lunar Lanterns program, applications should be completed and submitted online by Monday the 29th of August 2016.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

World Class Events A Magnet For Overseas Visitors

Sydney’s world class events are a major draw-card for overseas visitors with new statistics showing half those attending hail from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Germany & other parts of Europe.

Well over a million people attended last year’s Sydney New Year’s Eve & according to leading research analysts Stollznow, more than 46% travelled from overseas specifically to attend the event & stayed in Sydney for an average of 7.4 nights – 32% in central Sydney.

In addition to this, almost 90% of visitors in Sydney during New Year’s Eve said they came specifically for the event & had attended the event multiple times in previous years.

Sydney has retained its status as ‘New Year’s Eve Capital Of The World’, in terms of visitor numbers as well as the millions watching across Australia & a billion people watching around the globe.

The City is working in partnership with the New South Wales (NSW) Government to ensure Sydney New Year’s Eve remains the world’s best New Year’s Eve party.

The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival has also become the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside Asia with more than a million visitors this year attending more than 70 events over 16 days – an increase of 67% on 2015.

And this year’s festive season will see a host of new trees, decorations, light installations & events as part of a new creative vision for Sydney Christmas aiming to attract even more residents, visitors & shoppers to the city centre.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the world’s biggest 1-night events, generating more than $130 million annually in direct economic impact for NSW,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“It’s fantastic to see our New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year & Christmas celebrations inspiring so many people from all around the world to visit Sydney,”

“Working closely with government helps us deliver world-class events for millions of people every year,”

“The City also supports seasonal celebrations with Christmas concerts, streets decorations, light installations, retail events and community grants & the new designs planned from 2016 will encourage more people to celebrate Sydney Christmas across our local area.”

In February, the City called for 3 tenders for new Christmas decorations, projections, light installations & sculptures around the city as well as new Pitt Street Mall Christmas activations for 2016.

An expression of interest for Sydney Christmas 2017–2021 was released in March seeking an innovative creative direction for the Martin Place Christmas Tree, decorations, artworks & events that will transform the new pedestrian sections of George Street & attract thousands more families and shoppers to the city centre.

“The City is looking for ideas for 2017-2021 that propose an array of visual technologies or techniques in various Sydney locations that will attract & delight audiences and visitors to our city” the Lord Mayor added.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Painting The Town Red For Sydney Chinese New Year Festival

In an historic first, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Town Hall, Circular Quay Railway Station & the Capitol Theatre will be illuminated red to mark the 2016 Chinese New Year & welcome in the Year Of The Monkey.

The City Of Sydney is pleased to announce Westpac as principal partner of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival for the next 2 years & together they are painting the town red.

The world-famous iconic structures including the sails of the Sydney Opera House will glow the lucky red colour for 3 nights from the Festival Launch on Saturday the 6th of February through to Chinese New Year’s Eve on Sunday the 7th of February & Chinese New Year’s Day on Monday the 8th of February.

“Bathing the Sydney Opera House & the Harbour Bridge in red light welcomes good fortune for the Year Of The Monkey & is the perfect way to launch one of the biggest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of China,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“This unique red gateway symbolises Sydney’s role as Australia’s international gateway, with world class tourism, infrastructure, icons & amenities.

“We’re delighted to welcome Westpac as the largest corporate partner of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival & I invite everyone to visit the city, see these wonderful buildings light up for the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival and enjoy the many events & performances including the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub.”

To broaden the red make-over from the harbourside, Sydney Town Hall along with the Capitol Theatre will be illuminated for the entire Festival & visitors to the city will be invited to step into another world beneath a swaying ceiling of glowing lanterns in Martin Place where you can meet up with friends, grab a drink and bite to eat at the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub.

In Chinese culture, red symbolises good fortune & joy. It is believed to be an auspicious colour for warding off evil & also represents vitality and celebration.

The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival attracts more than 600,000 local & international visitors to Sydney, making it one of the most popular events in Sydney’s calendar & a boost to the local economy.

The City’s Sydney Chinese New Year Festival 2016 curator, Claudia Chan Shaw said lighting the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House is symbolic of creating a new red gateway to the city, welcoming the new Festival format & its expansion across the city.

“Lighting these iconic buildings sets the scene for a uniquely Sydney-style Chinese New Year on a global scale,” Claudia said.

“Following the enormous success of the 2015 Lanterns Of The Terracotta Warriors exhibition at Dawes Point, the new red gateway lighting along with the new Lunar Lanterns across the city & the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub will ensure the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is bigger and better than ever.”

“We’re delighted to celebrate these important ties by partnering with the City Of Sydney for the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival & to wish you success, prosperity and good luck in the Year Of The Monkey. Kung Hei Fat Choy!” said Westpac Group CEO, Brian Hartzer.

The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival will run from the 6th–21st of February. The Festival will include favourite events like the Dragon Boat Races, Lunar Feasts & more than 80 associated events.

The red light projections times & dates:

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House & Circular Quay Railway Station – Saturday the 6th to Monday the 8th of February, from 8pm until Midnight.
Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub, Martin Place – Saturday the 6th to Sunday the 14th of February, from 8pm until Midnight.
Capitol Theatre, courtesy of The Sound of Music & Sydney Town Hall – Saturday the 6th to Sunday the 21st of February, from 8pm until Midnight.

One of the highlights of this year’s Festival will be Lunar Lanterns running from the 6th–14th February. For more information, visit https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/major-events/chinese-new-year-festival.

#CNYSYD

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Sydney Spectaculars – Season 2016!

Want to see Sydney in all it’s glory? Check out our 2016 season of ‘Sydney Spectaculars’! Here is what is happening so far this year:

26 January 2016 – Australia Day In Sydney

A day to celebrate the cultures of the Australian continent with many events throughout the day from ocean swims and indigenous ceremonies to concerts and wheelchair races – this is the day Sydney shines. This year will feature 3 pyrotechnic displays (the most since 1989) at locations around Sydney Harbour such as Darling Harbour, Circular Quay & off Bradley’s Head. If you’re not in Sydney, you can watch ‘Australia Day 2016 – Live At Sydney Opera House’ (which could feature the Circular Quay fireworks), live on Channel Ten from 7:30pm AEDT* on Australia Day!

5 February 2016 To 5 March 2016 – Month Of Love

‘Loved-Up’ Fireworks light up Darling Harbour every Saturday night while events with a love theme make the month-long event ‘lovely’ in Darling Harbour!

6–21 February 2016 – Chinese New Year

In an historic first, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay Railway Station, Sydney Town Hall and the Capitol Theatre will all be illuminated red to mark Chinese New Year and to welcome the Year Of The Monkey. Check out the new ‘Lunar Lanterns’ placed around the city too. A small fireworks display on 6 February near Dawes Point will coincide with the switching on of the red lighting of the iconic Sydney structures to welcome in the new Chinese year!

19 March 2016 – Earth Hour

Created in Sydney, Earth Hour now occurs around the world. This ‘spectacular’ sees the lights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House turn off for 1 hour to convey a practical message on the environment. Head down to the Sydney Harbour foreshore and have a candle-lit picnic or attend one of the organised Earth Hour events around Sydney! If you’re not in Sydney, participate at home by turning your lights off for 1 hour at 8:30pm!

24 March 2016 to April 24 2016 – Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour: ‘Turandot’

A temporary open air opera theatre on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour with the iconic view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House in the background. With dazzling sets, a performance worthy of a standing ovation and a spectacular fireworks display to top it off, this is a once in a lifetime experience for anyone but spaces are limited so book your tickets now!

27 May 2016 to 13 June 2016 – Vivid Sydney

Famous for their Sydney Opera House projection shows, the LED light show on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as the many projection shows and light displays on the ‘Light Walk’, Vivid Sydney is now just as big as Sydney NYE. 2016 will see the introduction of the Royal Botanic Gardens into the festivities for the 1st time as a nod to the 200th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Also featuring live music and creative industry events, this is a once in a lifetime experience for anyone from outside of Sydney.

Darling Harbour usually also features a special pyrotechnic/laser/projection/water show frequently throughout Vivid Sydney but this is not confirmed yet.

2-17 July 2016 – Cool Yule

Darling Harbour transforms into a snowy wonderland while ‘Frosty’ Fireworks light up the night sky each Saturday night!

21 October 2016 – Sydney Opera House Diwali Spectacular

Watch the Sydney Opera House light up in yellow/orange/golden colours to celebrate Diwali!

26 November 2016 to 25 December 2016 – Sydney Christmas/Santa Fest

Featuring projections in Martin Place and on St Mary’s Cathedral & the Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Christmas brings the spirit of Christmas to Sydney in truly spectacular style. Check out the lighting ceremony of the massive interactive Christmas Tree in Martin Place, which features fireworks, for a truly magical night! Maybe Santa Claus will turn up? Darling Harbour also has Christmas-themed events including fireworks as part of their ‘Santa Fest’.

31 December 2016/1 January 2017 – Sydney New Year’s Eve

The grand finale of ‘Sydney Spectaculars’ – the original, biggest and best – Sydney NYE, the world’s biggest annual and most technologically advanced fireworks displays in the world! Without a doubt, this is a once in a lifetime experience for anyone from outside of Sydney.

That is all?

No! Many other ‘Sydney Spectaculars’ may occur throughout the year such as more Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge pylon projection shows but these other ‘Sydney Spectaculars’ are usually announced with short notice so keep an eye out on our blog if one gets announced unexpectedly!

What if there is no ‘Spectacular’ on when I visit?

Pyrotechnic displays frequently occur on Sydney Harbour so check our countdowns on the side of our blog to check when the next one is and where the most iconic view of the display is! Darling Harbour has general fireworks every Saturday night when they don’t have a ‘Spectacular’ on.

*Check your local guides for broadcast times outside of New South Wales.

Iconic Sydney Outdoor Opera To Feature Chinese Subtitles

Sydney’s world-renowned outdoor opera event, Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour, returns in 2016 with Puccini’s Turandot & for the 1st time will feature subtitles in Simplified Chinese.

New South Wales (NSW) Minister For Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said “The addition of subtitles in Simplified Chinese is a significant opportunity to further promote one of the world’s most spectacular outdoor opera events, Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour, to our largest international visitor market, China.”

“Close to 70% of all visitors from China undertake a cultural experience when visiting Australia & featuring subtitles in Simplified Chinese will be a major drawcard for Chinese visitors looking to experience an iconic Australian event in their own language.”

Opera Australia Artistic Director, Lyndon Terracini, said “The extraordinary growth in international visitors, particularly from China, has prompted this innovation for opera in Australia. We believe that Turandot is the perfect production to launch this initiative.”

Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour is a grand cultural event, set against the stunning backdrop of Sydney’s most famous landmarks, the Harbour Bridge & the Opera House.

In 2016, Chinese-born director Chen Shi-Zheng will present a new vision for one of opera’s most loved works, Turandot. Growing up in China, Chen studied traditional Chinese opera & developed a significant reputation as a singer and actor before moving to the United States Of America in 1987.

Set in Imperial Peking, the production will feature an international cast, bold and exotic themes, extravagant dance numbers & powerhouse performances including one of the most famous arias of all time, Nessun Dorma.

Chen Shi-Zheng’s take on Turandot will be one for the history books, with his innate understanding of Chinese & Western artistic approaches combining to deliver an exciting spectacle not to be missed.

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Turandot will run from 24 March 2016 until 24 April 2016.

Media Release: Destination NSW

Sydney Harbour Bridge To Feature As Part Of Chinese New Year

Despite all the downside over light rail construction affecting Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival Twilight Parade over the coming years, there are plans to light the Sydney Harbour Bridge & several Circular Quay buildings red as part of Chinese New Year for the 1st time over the next 2 years.

In Chinese culture, the colour red symbolizes good fortune and joy. Red is found everywhere during Chinese New Year & other holidays and family gatherings.

In July this year, an artist impression of the City Of Sydney’s ‘Lunar Lanterns‘ element for the 2016 Festival was released. This element was designed to make up for the cancellation of the Twilight Parade next year. In the artist impression, it featured the Sydney Harbour Bridge lit red with fireworks seemingly coming off it’s upper arch.

‘*Lunar Lanterns*‘ Artist Impression: Alexandra & Bradley Creative

Whilst the red lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was confirmed at the end of September with the issue of a tender request, the City Of Sydney said “At this stage, we don’t currently have plans for a fireworks display off the top of the Bridge.” when enquiring about the pyrotechnic portions of the artist impression.

This year, a small fireworks display off Dawes Point was held to signal the start of the Chinese New Year Festival with a main fireworks display held in Cockle Bay at Darling Harbour to conclude the Twilight Parade a few days later.

As part of now annual tradition, the Sydney Opera House will continue it’s recognition of the Chinese New Year Festival by lighting the western sails of the Sydney Opera House red again over the next 2 years.

The 2016 Chinese New Year Festival, which is to be held from Saturday 6 February to Sunday 21 February 2016, will celebrate the Year Of The Monkey. The launch of the Festival will occur later this month, where confirmation that the City is proceeding with the lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge & several Circular Quay buildings red is expected to be announced.

‘Today’ Takes To The Seas

The TODAY Show will host a ground-breaking television event on Wednesday November 25, bringing viewers one of Sydney Harbour’s biggest ever maritime events – the live P&O Cruises 5 Ship Spectacular.

With celebrations beginning at 5:30am AEDT & continuing throughout the morning, viewers will see history in the making when 5 P&O ships come together for the 1st time in Sydney Harbour, celebrating the arrival of the Australian cruise line’s latest ships, Pacific Aria & Pacific Eden.

Karl Stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson, Sylvia Jeffreys, Tim Gilbert & Ross Greenwood will be positioned on the Pacific Aria. Across the water at Fort Denison, Richard Wilkins will host all the entertainment action, joined by the ‘godmothers’ of the 2 ships – singer Jessica Mauboy & actress Kate Ritchie – who will officially name the Pacific Aria & Pacific Eden in a stunning dual christening ceremony during the broadcast.

Stevie Jacobs will be at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, hosting a big barbecue for those down at the foreshore to watch the 5 Ship Spectacular. Those celebrating the morning with Stevie will also have a chance to win some amazing prizes including a 9-night P&O cruise to the beautiful Pacific Islands.

Lisa Wilkinson says: “Sydney Harbour is without a doubt one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Watching the sun come up as this magnificent fleet moves into formation off Sydney Heads & then enters the Harbour one by one will be breathtaking.”

Karl Stefanovic says: “Everyone loves a big boat – so 5 ships in Sydney Harbour will be massive. We’ll have cameras in exclusive vantage points all over Sydney as the ships come in as well as right in the middle of the action when Jess and Kate name the ships & we see those big champagne bottles smash.”

P&O Cruises Australia Senior Vice-President, Mr Sture Myrmell, said the cruise line was excited to partner with TODAY for the historic broadcast. “This is going to be a day like no other on Sydney Harbour so we’re thrilled that all of Australia will be able to be part of the action with the TODAY Show onboard.”

Join the TODAY Show to watch maritime history in the making: live from 5:30am AEDT Wednesday, November 25.

For more details of P&O’s 5 Ship Spectacular, visit www.pocruises.com.au/5ships

#5Ships #pocruises #Today9

Media Release: Channel Nine

P&O Cruises Australia To Make History As Australian Stars Name Pacific Aria & Pacific Eden By Twitter

In a social media first, P&O Cruises Australia has revealed that its latest ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden, will be officially named by singer Jessica Mauboy and actress Kate Ritchie – via Twitter.

Announcing the identity of the godmothers, P&O Cruises Australia said the popular Australian personalities would both tweet the official naming words in a spectacular dual christening ceremony on Fort Denison as the 2 ships sail either side of the Sydney Harbour landmark on November 25.

The social media launch will also see the naming posted simultaneously on the godmothers’ Facebook and Instagram accounts and shared by P&O Cruises Australia across its platforms.

Ann Sherry, CEO for Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises Australia, said the cruise line was thrilled that 2 famous Australians had agreed to name the cruise line’s latest ships.

“Both Jess and Kate are well known and well-loved around the country. They epitomise modern Australia and really embody the new look and feel of P&O Cruises Australia so we are delighted they will be naming these very special ships – and in such a modern way,” Ms Sherry said.

“It will be a history-making day – we will have 5 ships on Sydney Harbour, a dual christening and we’ll be officially naming the ships via Twitter, which we believe is a world first.”

The ships’ naming ceremony – which will see Jessica Mauboy name Pacific Aria and Kate Ritchie name Pacific Eden – will be a highlight of P&O’s history-making 5 Ship Spectacular on Sydney Harbour on November 25.

The day will begin with the cruise line’s 5-ship fleet creating a V formation off the heads of Sydney Harbour early in the morning, as they meet for the 1st time.

The ships will then enter the Harbour single file, with Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden following their 3 big sisters. As they reach the centre of the Harbour around 8:30am, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden will sail either side of Fort Denison, where their godmothers will name them and champagne bottles will be smashed on their bows.

The 5 ships will then berth in the Harbour, with 25 artists performing live concerts onboard for guests in the afternoon – including Jessica Mauboy on Pacific Aria. The ships will sail from Sydney in the evening following a spectacular fireworks display for Sydneysiders at 8:45pm.

Jessica Mauboy is an award-winning singer who grew up in Darwin in Australia’s north and shot to stardom in 2006 after appearing on the television show Australian Idol. Her debut 2008 album ‘Been Waiting’ scored double platinum sales and yielded 7 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Award nominations. She has since won 2 ARIA Awards and has been nominated again for this year’s ARIA Awards.

Kate Ritchie is one of Australia’s best loved actresses, having spent 20 years as a lead on Home & Away, a role which earned her 2 Gold and 3 Silver Logies. Kate currently co-hosts the Australian Commercial Radio Award-winning Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty national drive show alongside Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold. Previously, she co-hosted the extremely popular breakfast radio show on Nova 96.9 with Merrick and Rosso throughout 2008 and 2009 & appeared on Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities. Kate has been the host and narrator of Don’t Tell The Bride, she has starred alongside Shaun Micallef and Kat Stewart in the drama Mr & Mrs Murder and in Peter Helliar’s project, It’s A Date.

2 Australian charities will also be the beneficiaries of the event with P&O Cruises Australia making a financial contribution to charities nominated by the godmothers.

Jessica Mauboy has chosen the Indigenous Literacy Foundation as her charity for the event while Kate Ritchie is yet to announce her charity.

Regarded as game changers for the Australian cruise industry, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden will feature a fresh, contemporary design and a host of special features from multiple restaurants and a lush private dining room to a resort-style swimming pool deck, with sheer curtains and private cabanas.

Media Release: P&O Cruises Australia